Our aim is not to alarm you, but to reduce some of the worry and stress caused by uncertainty and make sure you have access to up to date information.<\/p>\n
Coronavirus In Dogs<\/h2>\n
Many dog owners are already familiar with the term coronavirus.<\/p>\n
There are two types of canine coronavirus, which have been known for a long time.<\/p>\n
Canine Enteric Coronavirus<\/h4>\n
The first, canine enteric<\/em> coronavirus (sometimes abbreviated to CCoV) has been recognized in dogs since the 1970s.<\/p>\n It can refer to one of two strains of virus, both of which affect the stomach and intestines and cause inflammation.<\/p>\n Canine enteric coronavirus symptoms in dogs include loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.<\/p>\n They\u2019re usually mild and pass of their own accord with a little time and TLC.<\/p>\n Canine respiratory coronavirus (abbreviated to CRCoV) was discovered more recently.<\/p>\n It affects dogs\u2019 respiratory systems – their windpipes and lungs.<\/p>\n Respiratory coronavirus symptoms in dogs include a dry cough and runny nose<\/a>.<\/p>\n Canine respiratory coronavirus is one cause of canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) – more commonly known as \u2018kennel cough\u2019.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not the only one. Kennel cough is most usually caused by a strain of bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica<\/em>.<\/p>\n In people, a small number of coronaviruses are responsible for coughs, colds and pneumonia.<\/p>\n In fact they\u2019re rather common – strains of coronavirus which constantly circulate at a low level in human populations are thought to be behind 15-30% of respiratory tract infections<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2020, we\u2019re currently experiencing the impact of a new, exceptional strain.<\/p>\n In late 2019, a new strain of coronavirus was reported in the city of Wuhan, China.<\/p>\n The virus itself has been formally designated SARS-CoV-2, and the illness it causes has been named COVID-19 (CO<\/strong>rona Vi<\/strong>rus D<\/strong>isease – 2019<\/strong>).<\/p>\n At the time of writing, cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 80 different countries, and are responsible for over 3,000 deaths.<\/p>\n Around the world, governments and infectious disease experts are trying to control the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control.<\/p>\n As well as concern for themselves and their loved ones, a lot of dog owners are also worried about any risk to their pets.<\/p>\n Can dogs catch coronavirus COVID-19?<\/p>\n And if they can, can humans get coronavirus from dogs?<\/p>\n At the time of writing, there is very little known risk of COVID-19 to dogs.<\/p>\n For the most part, SARS-CoV-2 virus, like all coronaviruses, is highly species-specific.<\/p>\n Their life cycle depends upon tricking the cells of a host\u2019s body into absorbing them, so they can take control once inside.<\/p>\n To do this, they carry proteins on their outer surface which match proteins on the cell walls of their host.<\/p>\n Since cell wall proteins are different in every species, viruses can usually only trick one kind of host into absorbing them.<\/p>\n In fact, for a long time it was thought that coronaviruses couldn\u2019t leap between species at all.<\/p>\n But unfortunately, we now know that genetic variability within a single viral strain can sometimes make it possible for them to infect more than one species.<\/p>\n This is what scientists believe has happened now. A virus very much like SARS-CoV-2 virus was originally thought to have been restricted to bats, but a subtle variation of it is now able to infect humans (and possibly some unconfirmed intermediary species).<\/p>\n So our pet dogs should<\/em> be safe, but in the last couple of days there has been cause for concern.<\/p>\n On 26th February, officials in Hong Kong reported that a pet dog of a confirmed coronavirus patient had also tested weakly positive for coronavirus.<\/p>\n At the time, it wasn\u2019t clear whether the dog was truly infected, or contaminated by viral debris from their owner.<\/p>\n But since then, the dog has tested weakly positive again on 28th February and 4th March.<\/p>\n This suggests the dog has also contracted COVID-19.<\/p>\n However, it doesn\u2019t mean:<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s unpack that last point in a little more detail.<\/p>\n The new coronavirus outbreak is very much a developing situation.<\/p>\n There are still a lot of unanswered questions about what conditions it requires for transmission from one host to another.<\/p>\n And infected<\/em> doesn\u2019t necessarily mean infectious<\/em>.<\/p>\n Viruses are infectious when their host sheds them back into the environment.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that dogs can be weakly infected with COVID-19, but not infected enough to shed the virus back into the environment.<\/p>\n The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and<\/em> the Hong Kong agencies overseeing the quarantine of the low-level infected dog all agree that the primary way people catch COVID-19 is from other people.<\/p>\n None currently believe that pet animals are responsible for passing the infection back to people.<\/p>\n Whilst there isn\u2019t currently known to be any risk of dogs transmitting coronavirus to people, it is still recommended that we:<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s very important to remember that these are all things we should be doing under normal conditions too!<\/p>\n A vaccine against the two strains of canine enteric coronavirus is available.<\/p>\n It is sometimes offered by vets in addition to the standard schedule of puppy shots. And it is also available in a combined shot with the vaccines for other common preventable illnesses.<\/p>\n If your dog has been offered or received the combined DAPPC vaccine, the \u2018C\u2019 stands for enteric coronavirus.<\/p>\n However, the canine coronavirus vaccine isn\u2019t considered part of the core vaccination requirement for dogs, and there is some disagreement about whether it\u2019s worthwhile at all.<\/p>\n The World Small Animal Veterinary Association does not recommend routinely vaccinating dogs against canine coronavirus<\/a>, due to insufficient evidence that the vaccine works.<\/p>\n They also point out that canine enteric coronavirus is a relatively mild illness, and not cause for concern enough to warrant vaccinating against.<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a vaccine against canine respiratory coronavirus.<\/p>\n Kennel cough vaccines offer protection against some of the other diseases described as kennel cough (notably Bordetella), but not canine respiratory coronavirus.<\/p>\n Nor does the vaccine against canine enteric coronavirus work against canine respiratory coronavirus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Most coronaviruses only cause mild symptoms in healthy hosts.<\/p>\n Dogs have been affected by canine strains of gastroenteric coronavirus and respiratory coronavirus for decades.<\/p>\n In 2020, a novel strain of coronavirus is affecting people all over the world.<\/p>\n At the time of writing, only one pet dog is thought to have contracted a very weak case of COVID-19 infection, and there\u2019s no evidence that dogs can transmit the infection back to humans.<\/p>\n During the 2020 coronavirus outbreak, we can all help to restrict the spread of disease by maintaining strict hygiene practices.<\/p>\n And here at The Labrador Site HQ, we hope that all of our readers and your dogs stay well.<\/p>\n The 2020 coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation.<\/p>\n These websites are providing regularly updated information about the outbreak:<\/p>\n And we will of course be back with our own update, when we have more information.<\/p>\n Lorusso et al, Novel coronavirus (SARS\u2011CoV\u20112) epidemic: a veterinary perspective, Veterinaria Italia, 2020.<\/p>\n Paules et al, Coronavirus Infections\u2014More Than Just the Common Cold<\/a>, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2020.<\/p>\n World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Vaccination Guidelines<\/a>, 2015.<\/p>\n Regan & Sykes, Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease, Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice, 2019.<\/p>\n Appel, 40 Years of Canine Vaccination<\/a>, Advances in Veterinary Medicine, 1999.<\/p>\n Pratelli, Genetic diversity of a canine coronavirus detected in pups with diarrhoea in Italy<\/a>, Journal of Virological Methods, 2003.<\/p>\n Fehr & Perlman, Coronaviruses: An Overview of Their Replication and Pathogenesis<\/a>, Methods in Molecular Biology, 2015.<\/p>\nCanine Respiratory Coronavirus<\/h4>\n
Human Coronaviruses<\/h2>\n
COVID-19<\/h2>\n
Can Dogs Catch Coronavirus COVID-19?<\/h2>\n
![\"coronavirus](\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-in-Dogs-LS-tall.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Risk Of Coronavirus To Dogs<\/h2>\n
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Can Humans Get Coronavirus From Dogs?<\/h2>\n
Risk Of COVID-19 In Dogs – Sensible Precautions<\/h2>\n
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Coronavirus In Dogs Vaccine<\/h2>\n
What About A Vaccine Against Respiratory Coronavirus In Dogs?<\/h2>\n
Coronavirus In Dogs – Summary<\/h2>\n
For Up To Date Information About Coronavirus In Dogs<\/h2>\n
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References and Resources<\/h2>\n